Jamal claims Bersih behind the scuffles
But Maria Chin Abdullah rejects his ‘wild accusation’ and says ‘we are not into paying anybody to do violence and we have never done that’.
PETALING JAYA: Red Shirts movement leader Jamal Md Yunos has accused the Bersih reform group of having hired a man in red attire to attack a Bersih supporter last week.
“I wish to state that the violence and provocation before this is by Bersih.” he said today, according to Malaysiakini.
However, Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah rejected Jamal’s allegations as “wild accusations”. She was quoted as saying: “We are not into paying anybody to do violence and we have never done that.”
Jamal, in accusing Bersih, had referred to an incident last week when a motorcyclist in yellow was kicked from behind in Kuala Selangor. He said the attacker had been hired by Bersih “to wear the same T-shirt that we wear”.
Journalists of The Star and Malaysiakini were roughed up by anti-Bersih protesters last week and forced to delete photographs and video footage.
Jamal accused Bersih of also being behind the aggression against the journalists last week.
Speaking to reporters in Kapar, after a counter-rally against the Bersih convoy, Jamal said he would not be surprised if Bersih was suddenly “attacked” by red-shirt impersonators, the report said.
Police kept Bersih and Red Shirts apart in Kapar this afternoon when a Bersih convoy arrived at PKR’s offices from Kuala Selangor.
Kapar PKR information chief Mohd Zamsol Abd Majid accused the Red Shirts of continuously harrassing Bersih supporters.
Bersih steering committee member Jay Jay Denis said today’s convoy had been a “disappointment” as they were unable to mix with anyone from outside the group.
Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram
The Bersih convoys around various towns are to publicise a street rally in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 19 to demand the resignation of prime minister Najib Razak and to call for political reform.